Child Protection

 On September 6, 2011 Assistant District Governor Marilyn Chambers did the retraining on child protection and sexual harrassment for the club.  She likes to wander amongst her audience.  Starting with a nine scenario quiz  during which club members correctly identified those that were instances of child abuse and those things that were not true facts on the issue.  She then worked through the definitions of abuse and harassment giving members time to discuss each to be sure everyone was comfortable with them.  She discussed the reporting including how to listen to the child's statements and who to report them to as well as the need to assure privacy to the child and that the story would not be the subject of gossip.  Once the facts had been ascertained in a non judgemental way then she emphasised the need to make a written record of the conversation and report the allegations to the Club President or the Club's Child Protection Officer.  As the club is waiting for the release of the final form of the district policy no club child protection officer has yet been appointed.  She emphasisied that it was the role of the member to get the facts from the child without interrogation and that these allegations would be reported to the legal authorities for proper investigation, typically the police.  That there are some modifications with Youth Exchange Students was pointed out as these incidents need also be reported to Rotary International.